Track-sander



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

` I'. M. DEAN. TRACK SANDER. N0. 554,056.' Patented Peb. 4, 1896.

P. M. DEAN. TRACK SANDER.

` (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. l 155.554,05@I Patented Peb. 4, 1895.

l [1,1111111111 I l UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANCIS M. DEAN, OF HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRACK-SANDER.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,056, dated February 4, 1896. Application filed September 16, 1895. Serial No. 562,617. (N model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.- l

Be it known that I` FRANCIS M. DEAN, residing at Huron, in the county of Beadle and State of South Dakota, have invented a Track- Sander, of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of my invention is to provide a track-sanding device for use on locomotives which shall be posit-ive and reliable in operation and capable of convenient manipulation.

The gravity-sanders now in general use are open to many serious objections, chief among which are that they are liable to become clogged and are wasteful of sand. In my invention I overcome these objections and others by employing an injecting device for drawing and forcing the sand from the sand-box through the sand-pipes to the rails.

In the use of my device I obtain many other advantages which will be apparent from the description and operation of my sander, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my sanderapplied to a locomotive, showing the air-pipe connections; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation taken on line 2 of Fig. l 5 Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a sectional view taken on line 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction Aof the arrow and Fig. 5, an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The sand-box A may be that n ow in general use but the sand -pipes are preferably siphonshaped, as shown in the drawings, consisting of the ordinary discharge-pipes B B' and small curved pipes C C within the sand-box. One end of each of these latter pipes is screwed or otherwise secured in the outle t-hole or head of the pipes B B'. The other ends of these pipes connect with an air-jet device located at the bottom of the box, which device consists of two chambers or cages D D of any suitable shape and dimensions and provided with lateral openings CZ d communicating with the interior of the box. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 'each curved sand-pipe is coupled to its respective chamber or cage and forms therewith the passages of the sand from the box to the track.

A pipe E communicates with the air-drum E' of the locomotive and extends up through the cab within easy reach of the engineer, where it is provided with a suitable controlling-valve e. The pipe then continues and enters the sand-box Where it divides into two branches, which enter the cages through the upwardly-projecting nozzles a d situated at the base of the cages respectively.

I prefer to contract the lower end of the sand-pipe near the rail to form a nozzle which may be directed to force the sand between the wheel and rail, so that there will be no danger of the sand being blown off the rail before the wheel reaches it. Furthermore, by the use of this nozzle sufficient eXtra pressure is produced to force the sand under the wheel against a heavy side wind.

My device, being constructed as hereinbefore set forth, operates as follows: When it is desired to sand the rail, the engineer turns the valve e., allowing air-pressu re from the airdrum to pass from pipe E up through the nozzles a a and out through the sand-pipe. This generates an injecting action, and the sand which falls by gravity and which is also drawn into the cages is ejected by the blasts of air. The sand is thus blown out through the siphon-shaped sand-pipe and upon the rails.

By the use of my invention I obtain a positive and reliable feeding of the sand, the supply of which is regulated by the flow of air, which is entirely under the control of the engineer, whereby the sand will not be wasted or the rail become oversanded. Again, there is no danger of the device becoming clogged by waste or gravel stones. Furthermore, where necessary, as in the case of switching and suburban engines, &c., the sand may be carried from the sand-box to the back drivers, which is impossible where gravity alone is depended upon.

Although I have described more or less precise forms and details of construction, I do not intend to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form, proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient and without departing from the spirit of my invention. Furthermore, although I have shown in the drawings a single set of sand-pipes running to the front IOO drivers, yet it Will be understood that any number of sand-pipes extending to the places desired may be used and connected to one or more injecting devices in the sand-box. All such changes and modifications come Within the meaning and scope of my invention.

I claiml. In a track-sander, the combination of a sand-box, having discharge -pipes, a perforated chamber or cage located Within the box and communicating with the discharge-pipes and an injecting device Within the cage for drawing the sand from the box and forcing it through the pipes.

2. In a track-sander, the combination of a sand-box, sand-pipes leading therefrom to the rails, perforated chambers or cages at the ends ot' the pipes `Within the box, air jets or nozzles located at the base of the chambers and a FRANCIS M. DEAN'. \'itnesses:

WALDO B. CRONK, J, T. HOKE. 

